Update: May 4, 2020

According to the 1 May Executive Order, as well as the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity FAQ document dated 4 April 2020, IFSI is deemed as an essential business/function and is categorically exempt from the Executive Order.  A degradation of public safety resulting from continued suspension of first responder training and education, due to COVID-19 response actions, is unacceptable.  The IFSI team is working diligently on the development of training and education procedures that will allow us to gradually resume a more normalized delivery of training and education across the state. 

We understand completely that this “new normal” must include institutionalized procedures to mitigate the COVID-19 risk to our students, instructors, and staff.  These specific procedures and required actions/activities for staff, instructors, and students will be in place before we begin operations.

As we continue to prepare for this transition, please review the following decisions regarding our plans moving forward:

1. Unless otherwise specifically articulated by the Director, all IFSI courses/classes scheduled to take place between the weeks of 18-31 May are cancelled.

2. Starting 18 May, IFSI will facilitate training for courses currently in progress.  These include the Spring Fire Academy, Basic Operations Firefighter    Blended programs and select courses that have maintained virtual activity during our COVID-19 reduction of activity period.  This will allow the opportunity for students to successfully complete the course requirements necessary to receive state certification.

3. All off-campus Cornerstone Program course deliveries are cancelled through 30 June. Cornerstone deliveries will resume statewide 1 July.

4. The IFSI Program Leadership is evaluating the most needed and appropriate options for program specific course deliveries during the month of June.  Depending on their recommendations, currently scheduled courses for June may be cancelled and/or replaced with alternative delivery.  Director Mortenson will review their recommendations and make scheduling approval decisions accordingly. These decisions will be communicated with impacted students and shared with all staff, once available.

It should be noted that regardless of location, course, or enrollment timeline, our team is and will be addressing the specific protocols that will be implemented to ensure the health and safety of our students and instructors for all IFSI deliveries. The above actions will allow IFSI to “crawl, walk, and the run” as we gradually resume operations.  To include all staff supporting this gradual restart. 

We appreciate your continued support of our organization and look forward to the incremental resumption of our standard operations.